A rental scooter may seem like a freewheeling way to zip around Atlanta. However, when an accident occurs, the fun ends quickly. If you are a rider or a pedestrian dealing with scooter injuries, a scooter accident attorney can review the details and help you seek compensation. Before you scoot around town, find out more about scooter laws and scooter safety to cut down on the chance that you’ll need to search “personal injury lawyer near me.”
How Do Georgia’s Scooter Laws Work?
When you are out and about in Atlanta, you cannot help but notice the popularity of electric rental scooters.
These scooters are an affordable, eco-friendly rideshare option. As a relatively new phenomenon, riders may still be getting the hang of operating them, while pedestrians and car drivers are still learning to watch out for these small motorized vehicles.
Lawmakers and rental companies are working to keep operators and pedestrians safe. As the laws are evolving, here are some laws and safety guidelines:
- While Atlanta does not currently have a minimum age requirement to operate a scooter, the rental company might.
- The prohibition against driving under the influence applies to scooter operators. If you drink alcohol while you’re out in the city, a cab or rideshare makes a safer bet.
- Atlanta prohibits renting or riding a scooter between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. If you ride after dark, a flashing light or reflector will help drivers of other vehicles see you. Remember not to ride after 9 p.m.
- Although Atlanta law does not yet require them, you may want to bring a helmet if you plan to hop on a scooter.
- Keep an eye out for areas where the scooter speed limit reduces to eight miles per hour.
In general, you’ll want to follow all applicable traffic laws. Since scooters provide the driver with less protection than a car and make you vulnerable to more severe injuries than in a car accident, proceed with caution.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries related to an electric scooter accident, be sure to contact a personal injury attorney or scooter accident lawyer to help you understand the laws. You may be able to seek compensation for your injuries to help pay for you to get your life back up and running.
Five Ways to Scoot Safely
Sharable rental scooters reduce city traffic and help sustainability initiatives, but they can add a level of danger for scooter operators, other drivers, and pedestrians. This is especially true in the early stages of a city introducing scooter traffic. If you want to take advantage of this great alternative rideshare option, keep reading for some scooter safety tips.
Laws Prohibit Riding a Scooter on a Sidewalk
You may have heard the punchline, “If you don’t like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk.” When it comes to safety, riding a scooter on the sidewalk is not a joke.
In Georgia, riding a scooter on the sidewalk faces strict prohibitions. If you hop off and walk the scooter, you may use sidewalks and crosswalks. In this case, you’re considered a pedestrian and will not be breaking any laws.
One Scooter, One Rider Only
In Atlanta, riding a scooter is a solo sport. While you may be tempted to save a few bucks by sharing a ride with a friend, it is both unsafe and unlawful to have more than one person on a scooter.
All Traffic Laws Apply
When you and your scooter share the roads with other vehicles and their drivers, you also share the responsibility to follow all of the same traffic laws.
- Go with the flow of traffic.
- Give pedestrians the right of way.
- Obey stop signs and traffic signals.
It’s like riding a bike — literally. Riders on bikes without the additional power of an electric scooter need to follow the same laws.
Avoid Texting and Scooting
When you operate a scooter, you violate Atlanta law if you even hold a cell phone in your hand. Whatever text or social media update you receive can wait until you arrive at your destination.
Sure, you want to stay connected, but remain safe until you stop. Put your phone in a pocket or bag so you can keep both hands on your ride.
Obey Local Parking Laws
A rental scooter can get you almost anywhere you want to go. That does not mean you can leave the scooter anywhere you’d like, though.
When you zip around Atlanta, you need to follow the city’s parking regulations. You cannot dump the scooter in front of your favorite café while you meet friends for lunch.
Do not leave a scooter where it will obstruct:
- Traffic access or road signs
- Pedestrian access
- Wheelchair access
- Bike lanes
- Loading zones
- Driveways or other parking areas
- Fire hydrants
Manhole covers and bus stops are also off-limits for scooter parking. You want to make sure to park your scooter more than five feet away from a bike-share location—and stay off the grass.
Injured in a Scooter Accident? Contact an Experienced Scooter Accident Attorney
Suppose you have been involved in a scooter accident. In that case, you may start an online search for a “personal injury attorney near me.” Are you wondering if you should forget about the accident because “It was just a scooter?” The answer is no—you should not dismiss these injuries that negatively impact your daily life. Vehicle accident lawyers see a range of injuries, from bumps and bruises to wrongful death.
If you’re concerned about injuries from a scooter accident in Atlanta, GA, Greathouse Trial Law can help determine if you have a case. Our scooter accident attorney, Riah Greathouse, acts as an advocate for scooter accident victims like you and has recovered over $50 million on behalf of injured clients in our law practice. Contact us at 678-310-2827 for your free consultation.
Copyright© 2021. Greathouse Trial Law. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Greathouse Trial Law
260 Peachtree Street NW
Suite 803
Atlanta, GA 30303
(678) 310-2827
https://atltriallaw.com/
